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Isaac Weiner November 2, 2005

Islam and Judaism: Selected Bibliography
(* = recommended for use in Introductory course) General Histories: Goitein, S.D. Jews and Arabs: Their Contacts Through the Ages. New York: Schocken Books, 1955; 3rd ed. 1974. Classic work on the subject. Readable, no footnotes, useful (though outdated) annotated bibliography. Still widely cited, but criticized as excessively Orientalist in approach. Introduced concept of “interreligious symbiosis.” Lewis, Bernard. The Jews of Islam. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984. Along with Goitein’s Jews and Arabs, widely cited as the standard text in the field. Adapts the image of “symbiosis.” Strong on intellectual history. Includes a lengthy introductory chapter on the relationship between Islam and other religions. Patai, Raphael. The Seed of Abraham: Jews and Arabs in Contact and Conflict. New York: Scribner, 1986. Another attempt to narrate the history of Jewish-Arab encounter, but written very much in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflicts. Focuses on “folk culture” as central analytical category. Not recommended for introductory course on Islam. *Stillman, Norman. The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1979. Very useful source. Relatively brief (about 100 pages) narrative of the history of Jews in Arab lands up until about the nineteenth century. Stillman then provides an incredible compendium of primary sources, many of which are quite brief and would be great for use in introductory course. *------------. The Jews of Arab Lands in Modern Times. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1991. Same as above, but covers nineteenth century to the present. *------------. “The Judeo-Islamic Historical Encounter: Visions and Revisions,” in Tudor Parfitt, ed. Israel and Ishmael: Studies in Muslim-Jewish Relations. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000. Excellent, short, readable historiographic essay on the study of Jews under Islam. Shows how political and social context has influenced how this history has been interpreted and narrated. Discusses and critiques major authors and works. Highly recommended for those interested in the subject. Nettler, Ronald. “Judaism and Islam,” in Oxford Encyclopedia of Modern Islamic World. Provides great overview of the subject with useful periodization and bibliography. Early History/Origins Crone, Patricia and Michael Cook. Hagarism: The Making of the Islamic World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977.

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VT: Ashgate. arguing that the Islamic sources were redacted later and therefore are unreliable. Rizwi S. and self-consciously reflects on the problem of inadequate sources and other challenges facing the historian of this period. Instead. Not as coherent or readable as Newby’s A History of the Jews of Arabia.and Early Islamic Arabia. A History of the Jews of Arabia: From Ancient Times to their Eclipse Under Islam. He wants to suggest that the harsh treatment of the Jews is inconsistent with the teachings of the Prophet. as Crone and Cook describe them). and particularly Jewish messianism. Their account has been criticized by many other scholars. Barakat argues that the Qur’an can not be read as a reliable historical source for the relationship between Muhammad and the Medina Jews. Another revisionist account. Faizer argues that the Qur’an can not be treated as reliable history. Faizer. Uri.” in Encyclopaedia of the Quran. They suggest that Islam grew out of “Judaeo-Arabic intimacy. The Quran. Brookfield. Columbia. A collection of articles published by the author between 1985 and 1997 on the subject. Provides historiography as well as history. Rubin.
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. Jews and Arabs in Pre.” Studia Islamica 62 (1985): 5-23. New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House. Newby tries to provide an account of the Jews of Arabia up until Muhammad’s time to illuminate the early formation of Islam. Uri. Careful re-examination and analysis of the “Constitution of Medina” by a textual critic. S. Gordon. *Newby. Muhammad and the Jews: A Re-examination. Crone and Cook reconstruct Islam’s formation based on non-Islamic sources. the traditional Islamic understanding of Muhammad and the Medina Jews reflects the concerns of 8th and 9th century writers who projected their views backwards. “The ‘Constitution of Medina’: Some Notes. and Polemics Rubin. Ahmad. Concise (122 pages). 1988.” International Journal of Middle East Studies 28:4 (1996): 463-489. Instead. the Bible. readable. had great influence on the emerging self-definition of early Muslims (or Hagarenes. This might be useful if wanted to treat subject of revisionist scholarship in introductory course.: University of South Carolina Press. though perhaps more relevant to course on Jewish history. Useful if taking historical approach. 1979. Ahmad seems to have apologetic aims. 1998. Barakat. Comparative study of the material concerning Muhammad and his relationship with the Medina Jews in two pieces of biographical literature on the Prophet.C. Michael. Lecker. Extremely useful presentation and analysis of Quranic attitudes to Jews and Judaism. “Muhammad and the Medina Jews: A Comparison of the Texts of Ibn Ishaq’s Kitab Sirat Rasul Allah with Al-Waqidi’s Litab al-Maghazi. “Jews and Judaism. he demonstrates how these authors impose their own biases and interests on their texts.Notorious revisionist history of the early period of Islam.” Judaism.

Lazarus-Yafeh’s briefer overview would be more useful for introductory course.D. but offers no commentary. 1999. Excellent. 6 vol. S. this might be a great text for an introductory course. Muslim Writers on Judaism and the Hebrew Bible: From Ibn Rabban to Ibn Hazm. Emphasizes that the Islamic-Jewish polemical literature was never as vast as the Islamic-Christian polemical literature. Gohari lists every reference in the Quran to Jews and Judaism. This innovative study is not of Biblical influence on the Quran. Uses attitudes toward Bible and polemical literature as entry into understanding the complicated “symbiosis” of cultures in early/medieval Islamicate civilization. Perhaps unintentionally demonstrates need for exegesis..” Relatively short (less than 160 pages). A Mediterranean Society: The Jewish Communities of the Arab World as Portrayed in the Documents of the Cairo Geniza. Its six volumes makes it unlikely for use as an assigned text. Adang. perhaps. Rubin. bur rather of the relative impact of Biblical and Quranic sources on early Islamic texts (mainly Hadith material). stimulating study of “the role the Hebrew Bible played in Muslim medieval polemics. Offers series of brief case studies. and transmitted it back to Europe.” in S. Princeton: Darwin Press. focused reading of nine particular Muslim authors. New York: E. but denser. Goiten. Between Bible and Quran: The Children of Israel and the Islamic Self-Image. CA: University of California Press.
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. Goitein reconstructs the social world of these Jewish—and Muslim— communities. Suggests that this material presents another example of Islamic civilization as both storehouse and transmitter – learned Biblical criticism from pre-Islamic sources.J. Arranged thematically. Goitein’s impressive and overwhelming magnum opus. Camilla.J. 1996. Gohari. Considered by many the definitive work on the subject. Brill. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Islamic Judaism: An Account of References to Jews and Judaism in the Quran. Moshe. but overly dense for introductory course. 2000. though I worry it may be dated. *Lazarus-Yafeh. Cambridge. developed it. A one-volume abridgement is also available.*Perlmann. M. “The Medieval Polemics Between Islam and Judaism.” Similar to LazarusYafeh’s Intertwined Worlds. Berkeley.D. Relatively concise. Uri. ed. Intertwined Worlds: Medieval Islam and Bible Criticism. Oxford: Oxford Logos. 1992. MA: Association for Jewish Studies. 1967-1993. interpretation when approaching sacred texts. He suggests that this compilation will shed light on the relations between Judaism and Islam. readable. Medieval Muslim-Jewish Relations (Social History): Goitein. Hava. but I am skeptical. Based on a lifetime of work with sources from the Cairo Geniza. Adang studies “early Muslim attitudes towards the Jewish Scriptures. Very interesting. Religion in a Religious Age. more sustained. Useful reference for scholar. but it is a valuable resource for scholars or as a recommended source for students. 1974.

*Brinner. Ithaca. Steven M.
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. Tentatively recommended essay: Lassner. For Wasserstrom. all emphasizing the multi-directionality of exchanges between the two communities. Wasserstrom investigates the dynamics of this symbiosis from a religious studies perspective. Tentatively recommended essays: Waldman. George F. 47-64). *Wasserstrom. for we see many “Islamic” terms and concepts shared by these Jewish communities. but argues in the end that “creative symbiosis” is still a useful concept. Essays in this volume examine the nature of the Muslim-Jewish medieval “symbiosis” through a variety of lenses. Hourani. *Hary. 153-165). An article version of the fifth volume of A Mediterranean Society. Goitein’s (and others’) image of “creative symbiosis” to characterize early Jewish-Muslim relations. Historiography. Benjamin H. eds. these essays cover an enormous range of topics – remarkably thorough and comprehensive. but might be helpful if pursuing regional approach or for a particular case study. symbiosis is not merely about cultural borrowing and influence. 2000.D. Goitein tries to capture the religious life of medieval Arab-speaking Jews. Jews Among Muslims: Communities in the PreColonial Middle East. Atlanta. Cambridge. Deshen. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Hayes. written by leading scholars in the field. and philosophy. and Fred Astren. and Historical Consciousness: The Dialectic of JewishMuslim Relations” (pp. Another excellent edited collection of articles. Focuses on exegesis. and Interaction. S. 1996. Judaism and Islam: Boundaries. Ricks. MA: Association for Jewish Studies. 1-26). Shlomo and Walter P.D. 1974. “Time. William M. Jacob. ed. “Religion in Everyday Life as Reflected in the Documents of the Cairo Geniza. 1986. Goiten. eds. Collection of essays (arranged geographically) that explore various Jewish communities under Muslim rule utilizing an anthropological/social scientific approach.” in S. Probably more useful for Jewish history course than for course on Islam. Lerner. Stimulating and provocative. He vividly illustrates the notions of “Islamicate” society and of symbiosis. “New Approaches to ‘Biblical’ Materials in the Qur’an” (pp. 1963. Interested in the differences between Jewish communities under Muslim rule and Christian rule. Ralph and Muhsin Mahdi. Studies in Islamic and Judaic Traditions.. Marilyn. Religion in a Religious Age. GA: Scholars Press. John L. “Maimonides and Islam” (pp. Arranged historically and thematically. but symbiosis itself presented intellectual challenge that sparked cultural creativity. Medieval Political Philosophy. and Stephen D. 1995.. Communications. but perhaps too difficult for introductory course.D. law. Drawing on S. NY: Cornell University Press. He criticizes Goitein’s Orientalism.Goitein. Very useful edited collection. New York: New York University Press. Zenner. Between Muslim and Jew: The Problem of Symbiosis Under Early Islam. Leiden: Brill.

Parfitt. post-exodus of Jews from Arab lands).” They aim to historicize and de-essentialize the sacralization of politics and the politicization of religious discourse. Islam. 1998. It has not been the product of a systematic “grand vision” from the outset. Muslim-Jewish Encounters: Intellectual Traditions and Modern Politics. but probably inappropriate. political. Jews. Might also consider using excerpts from Maimonides’ The Guide of the Perplexed or Judah HaLevi’s The Kuzari. Alisa Rubin. Preface by Said that sets up this collection in opposition to Hutchinson’s “Clash of Civilizations” thesis. Judaism. Any of the essays would be interesting and useful for an introductory course—might even consider assigning entire book. Tudor and Yulia Egorova. Traces formation of Israeli policy toward Islamic institutions and citizens in the Israeli state. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers. Albany: State University of New York Press. too narrowly focused for introductory course. Excellent collection of essays. eds. London: RoutledgeCurzon. The Modern Conflict: *Nettler. Ronald L.” Nissim Rejwan. Very effective for de-essentializing and historicizing the question of Muslim attitudes towards Jews and Judaism. *Bunzl. Hugh S. 2001. post-Zionist. eds. Suha. FL: University Press of Florida. ed. and the Political Role of Religions in the Middle East. Peled.”
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. 15-37). “Sayyid Qutb and the Qur’anic Story of Joseph: A Commentary for Today” (pp. 2004. 39-64) (perhaps could be read alongside Qutb’s “Our Struggle with the Jews”). “Islam and Judaism: Cultural Relations and Interaction through the Ages” (perhaps this essay should be listed under general history or under medieval social history). depending on interests of the instructor. Muslims. Muslims. and their conflict have been portrayed in the mass media. that focus on Islamic responses to the modern “Jewish question” (post-colonial.Great collection of primary sources for those interested in using philosophy as an entry into discussing Jewish-Muslim interactions and exchanges. and Suha Taji-Farouki. She argues that Israeli policy has been fragmented and has developed piecemeal over time. “A Contemporary Reconstruction of the Jews in the Qur’an” (pp. “Religious Roots of Tolerance with Special Reference to Judaism and Islam. Galford. “A Religion’s Self-Conception of ‘Religion’: The Case of Judaism and Islam. mostly readable and accessible. Tentatively recommended essays: Hans-Michael Haussig. John. Also includes some examples of Jewish responses. Fantastic collection of essays by leading scholars that explore the “Jewish and Islamic dimensions of contemporary Middle East politics. Might be interesting for unit on modern relations. Includes excerpts from major writings of most important Jewish and Muslim (and Christian) medieval philosophers. Adam B. and historical context. Seligman. 2004. as some have claimed. Gainesville. Edited collection of articles that examine how Jews. Debating Islam in the Jewish State: The Development of Policy Toward Islamic Institutions in Israel. Tentatively recommended essays: Taji-Farouki. and Mass Media: Mediating the ‘Other’. Demonstrates how interpretation of Quran and of history can be affected by social.

1999. NJ: Ktav Publishing House. but I would not recommend it for introductory course on Islam. London. Paris: Editions Publisud. 1992. Neusner. Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Islam for Jews. Columbus. Comparing Religions Through Law. Marilyn Robinson. 2001. Waldman. Peters. Hoboken. Readable and accessible. Burlington. Hechiche. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
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. Muslims and Christians. Pratt. Children of Abraham: Introduction to Judaism for Muslims. A Hopeful Future.” Recognizes and acknowledges that he is fairly essentialist in approach (for pragmatic purposes). 2003. Douglas. The Challenge of Islam: Encounters in Interfaith Dialogue. 2002. Firestone. New York: Routledge. Reuven. Hoboken.E. Khalid. 2001. Muslims and Jews: A Common Past. ed. OH: Islamic Foundation of Central Ohio. More about faith than history. Introduction to the “three monotheistic faith communities of Judaism. 2005. F. Abdelwahab. Jacob and Tamara Sonn. and Islam in a comparative context. Christianity. The Monotheists. What Jews Should Know About Islam and Muslims: Remembering a Common Heritage.Dialogue/Mutual Understanding: Duran. NJ: Ktav Publishing House. VT: Ashgate. 2 vol.